Police suspect alcohol in St. Paul crash injuring 6 people

St. Paul police believe that alcohol was a factor in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday night that injured several people, including three children, an official said.

All six passengers were hospitalized following the accident, at the intersection of Johnson Parkway and Maryland Avenue about 8:35 p.m. Wednesday.

At least two people were critically injured, police spokesman Howie Padilla said.

Jim Xiong, 23, of South St. Paul, was driving west on Maryland with another passenger when he struck a vehicle driven by Tou Pao Lee, 44, of St. Paul, who had his three children with him. Lee and his 10-year-old son Peter were ejected.

According to a Regions Hospital spokeswoman Thursday, Lee was listed in serious condition, Xiong was in good condition and Xiong’s passenger Jennifer Hang, also of South St. Paul, was in fair condition.

The children — including Peter, 12-year-old Jessica and 6-year-old Ashley — were transferred to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. A spokeswoman for Gillette declined to release details on their conditions.